From the superb opening choral performance by St. Joseph School's principal and students to the inspirational and hopeful comments from University of Cincinnati President Santa Ono, more than 300 guests enjoyed the program and festivities. John Lomax, Local 12 news anchor, was emcee at the event Aug. 29 at the Great American Ball Park.

Each year Catholic Inner-city Schools Education Fund brings together major donors, volunteers, schools' teachers and staff, student representatives with their parents, alumni and friends to celebrate the start of their 2013 fundraising campaign. The fund must raise $2.5 million annually to provide the needed support to eight Catholic inner-city elementary schools in Cincinnati.

The program began with an outstanding choral performance by the St. Joseph student choir, led by Principal Dionne Partee.

Bishop Joseph Binzer presented two Faith in Education Awards. These awards are presented to those who have provided outstanding support for the advancement of Catholic Inner-city Schools Education Fund 's mission. This year's honorees were Jack Twyman, awarded posthumously, and en Schuermann. The Twyman family accepted the award on behalf of Jack Twyman.

Both Schuermann and Twyman served on the Catholic Inner-city Schools Education Fund Board and gave countless hours to the service of Catholic Inner-city Schools Education Fund. Schuermann served on the executive committee as chair for the Major Gifts effort for many years. Twyman, one of Catholic Inner-city Schools Education Fund's greatest ambassadors, joined the board in 1997 and was one of the original members of the executive committee, serving on the committee until he died last year.

Harry Santen followed with a presentation of the Catholic Inner-city Schools Education Fund Distinguished Educator Award to Holy Family pre-school teacher Jennifer Drennan. This award goes to the teacher who serves as an outstanding example of teaching excellence. In her application she said, "my students know that I love and care about each one of them and will treat them with respect. In turn, they learn to treat others with kindness and consideration."

Keynote speaker Santa J. Ono wowed the crowd with his message as well as his genuine engagement in the evening's events. He mentioned the Gen-1 Theme House as an example of UC's commitment to urban students like those educated in the CISE schools.

Citing a quote from Martin Luther King Jr., "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase," Ono compared that step to what CISE has been doing for more than 33 years. Ono pledged his support saying, "as long as I am in Cincinnati, I will be on that staircase with you."

The evening concluded with remarks from Tim Stautberg who is co-chairing the 2013 Catholic Inner-city Schools Education Fund Campaign with siblings Chris Stautberg, Beth Stautberg, Matt Stautberg and Peter Stautberg. He said, "my sister, brothers and I are honored to serve as co-chairs of this year's campaign. We've been humbled by the experience of visiting our schools, and humbled by witnessing the generosity of this community- the generosity of many of you in this room. Thank you all for what you have done, for what you are doing, and most importantly, for what I know you will continue to do for the children entrusted to our care in our eight CISE schools."

After the program, Ono chatted with a group of Catholic Inner-city Schools Education Fund school graduates who are in their senior year at local Catholic high schools. UC is one the top choices for higher education for Catholic Inner-city Schools Education Fund school graduates.

There are 1,650 students in the eight Catholic elementary schools served by Catholic Inner-city Schools Education Fund. Ninety percent of these students live below the poverty level and seventy-five percent are not Catholic. The schools supported are St. Boniface in Northside, Corryville Catholic, St. Francis Seraph in Over-the-Rhine, St. Francis de Sales in East Walnut Hills, Holy Family in Price Hill, St. Joseph in the West End, St. Lawrence in Price Hill and Resurrection in Price Hill.